Community Activities

Biography

My work life in many fields has been defined by resolving conflict to improve everyone's lives. I am a collaborator who can reach across boundary lines that separate others and help to forge common ground for constructive solutions. This work began when I represented employers in labor matters. I sought a position teaching at McGeorge Law School to influence would-be lawyers to be problem-solvers. When I made that shift, my former adversaries encouraged me to also become an arbitrator and mediator, because they held me in high regard for my integrity and reasoned approach. That work continued for 30 years, and led to service addressing some major public policy disputes. Two examples are: 1) a dispute between the sight-impaired and the mobility impaired over the nature of warning bumps at crossings, and 2) a dispute between a major provider of safety-net services (including 800 meals/day) and surrounding businesses about impacts. Both disputes were resolved, and the resolutions continue to work. In 2005, I graduated from seminary and became a priest in the Episcopal Church. For the last 6 years, I have continued to live in Palm Desert while commuting to serve a congregation in the downtown area of Hemet. While there, I played a very active part in an after-school program offering homework help and other enrichment to neighborhood children. Despite commuting over 120 miles roundtrip to work each day, I have made time to be an active part of my Palm Desert community, volunteering on the Joslyn Center Board, on the Planning Commission, and as part of the process that produced our new draft General Plan for the City. Having now retired from my position, I have the time to put my life-skills to work full-time for my community. I am an active part of Palm Deset Golf Ventures, LLC, which is striving to make our historic Shadow Mountain Golf Course a successfu part of South Palm Desert's future. My Dad, Dick Kelly, served on the Palm Desert City Council for 28 years, and I saw the good he was able to accomplish by being attentive to all people's concerns and aggressively seeking new ideas for progress. That has inspired me to run for City Council.

Who supports this candidate?

Featured Endorsements

The Desert Sun Newspaper Editorial Board

Organizations (3)

Coachella Imperial Valleys Strategies PAC

Desert Valleys Builders Association

California Desert Association of REALTORS®

Elected Officials (4)

Palm Desert Mayor Robert Spiegel

Palm Desert Councilman Sabby Jonathan

Aurora Wilson, COD Area 4 Trustee

Wendy Jonathan, DSUSD Board Member

Individuals (5)

Carl L. Karcher

Ray Rodriguez

Brian Harnik

Ron Gregory, Planning Commissioner

John Greenwood, Planning Commissioner

Political Beliefs

Political Philosophy

1) I truly believe that all people hold part of the truth. For this reason, I naturally convey the respect for all that is essential to effective regional collaboration. Your council members MUST be good regional collaborators to achieve progress on the very key issues that do not observe city limit lines: resource preservation, air quality, public safety, affordable and efficient transportation and good synergy between business workforce needs and educational offerings.

2) All tax dollars that are collected should be put to good use (acknowledging that a prudent reserve is one important use). Because downturns are inevitable, in comparatively good times, we MUST attend to infrastructure needs that will assure the public amentities and resources essential to quality of life for people of all economic means.

3) Education and incentives are generally better than mandates. City govenment should attend to the services we all need to thrive.

Experience

Experience

Councilmember, Palm Desert City Council — Elected position (2012–current)

Mayor, Palm Desert City Council — Elected position (2015–2015)

Education

Cal State University San Bernardino — BS in Business Administration (1979)

Community Activities

Board Member and Treasurer, Historical Society of Palm Desert (2010–current)

City Liaison, Coachella Valley Mountain Conservancy (2012–current)

City Liaison, Commission on Art in Public Places (2012–current)

Member, Palm Desert Rotary Club (2003–current)

Past Board Member, Palm Desert High School Foundation (1987–1994)

Who supports this candidate?

Organizations (3)

The Desert Sun newspaper Editorial Board

California Desert Association of Realtors

Desert Valley Builders Association

Political Beliefs

Political Philosophy

I want to continue to utilize my expertise in reviewing the city's budget and finances. My emphasis is on public safety, maintaining the city's special environment and our business community. As a small business owner I am able to relate to businesses. Having a variety of clients, I hear about issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. Listening to citizens and finding ways to solve problems makes the job of Councilmember worthwhile.

I strongly support the improvements at San Pablo and was instrumental in bringing the team that developed this plan to our city.

I will deal with issues thoughtfully, and promise to constantly review the budget and analyze other ways we can meet the city's needs besides raising taxes on the residents of Palm Desert.